Prayers for family of former Cub Rod Beck

Monday

Jun 25, 2007 at 12:01 AMJun 25, 2007 at 12:20 PM

Beck, 38, found dead Saturday in Arizona.

Jeff Vorva

During the Cubs’ chapel service Sunday, players said a prayer for Rod Beck’s family.

Beck, the Cubs’ closer in 1998 and 1999, was found dead in Arizona on Saturday at age 38. The man known as “Shooter” had 51 saves for the ’98 Cubs, helping them claim the National League wild-card berth.

His Fu Manchu mustache, long hair, pre-pitch arm swing and ability to get hitters out with pitches in the mid-80s (mph) made him a cult hero among Cubs fans.

He was also a big-bellied, cigarette-smoking motorcycle rider who would be cheered on as he roared out of the Wrigley Field parking lot.

“Tragic,” Cubs president John McDonough said. “He was a colorful character. He was great for baseball. It’s sad. He was a big part of that 1998 team.

“He sang (during the seventh-inning stretch at Wrigley Field) last year. He was at the Cubs Convention (in January). Baseball needs more people like Rod Beck.”

“It’s horrible news,” added Kerry Wood, a teammate of Beck’s from 1998-99. “He was old school. He did his job and had fun doing it.”

Beck, who had 286 career saves, enhanced his cult status in 2003. He was inked to a minor league deal with Triple-A Iowa and set up an RV outside Principal Park in Des Moines. After games, he would host teammates and anyone else who wanted to drink some beer and talk baseball.

Reliever Michael Wuertz was with Iowa that season and enjoyed Beck’s company.

“It was amazing how many people went back there behind the wall,” Wuertz said. “He’d have his cooler. Grounds-crew people. Fans. They all came back there. It was unbelievable how many fans went back there and how he treated them. What he’s done for me personally will leave a lasting impression on me.”

Cubs third-base coach Mike Quade managed Iowa in 2003 and said the first couple of days were a little unsettling. Beck wasn’t sure he wanted to pitch in the minors. But Quade said Beck warmed to the idea and conducted himself like a professional. Beck eventually left the organization early in the season and landed a job in San Diego’s bullpen. He made 62 appearances for the Padres in 2003-04 to close his career.

“You can’t know him and not love him,” Quade said. “He got himself ready to pitch in the big leagues, and I’ll be damned if he didn’t make it back and pitched for San Diego and did great. With us, he was one of the guys. A regular guy. He was great for the younger guys to be around.”

“I didn’t know him personally, but I enjoyed watching him pitch and the way he competed,” Cubs manager Lou Piniella said. “He was a character, and I heard some real nice things about him.”

Beck was found Saturday by police officers responding to a call to his home in suburban Phoenix, police department spokesman Andy Hill said Sunday. Foul play is not suspected, though the cause of death might not be known for several days.

Beck battled personal demons late in his life. He abruptly left the Padres for a two-month stint in drug rehabilitation during his final season in 2004.

“He was having some problems, and I just knew he went into rehab and joined us later that year,” said Giants manager Bruce Bochy, the Padres’ manager at the time. “It’s so sad when you see healthy players go at such a young age. This is a bad day in baseball to lose a guy who did so much for the game.”

Beck, who had a career record of 38-45 and a 3.30 ERA in 704 games, is survived by his wife, Stacey, and two children.

Contributing: AP

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